​Countdown to kickoff is back. USC will open its 2026 football season on August 29, hosting San Jose State at the Coliseum. In this series, we count down the days to the season opener by spotlighting a notable Trojan who wore each uniform number. Today marks day 50, meaning we’re halfway through the countdown. Our focus is former USC defensive lineman Nick Figueroa.
Position: Defensive line
Years at USC: 2019–2022
Career highlights: After redshirting at Cal Poly in 2017 and spending the 2018 season at the junior college level, Figueroa transferred to USC in 2019. He wore No. 50 for his first three years with the program, then switched to No. 99 for his final season in 2022. The jersey change paid off, as Figueroa enjoyed a career year with 26 total tackles and 5.5 sacks.
Figueroa had a notable affinity for games against Washington State. Across his ten career sacks, five came in two matchups versus the Cougars, suggesting WSU fans breathed a little easier after he left the field.
After USC: Figueroa was not selected in the 2023 NFL Draft. He completed his bachelor’s degree in real estate at USC and then pursued a master’s degree in finance while continuing to play for the Trojans. According to his LinkedIn profile, Figueroa is currently an associate at Leonard Green & Partners.
For those familiar with USC, one of the campus entrances sits on Figueroa Street. While we cannot confirm a personal connection between Nick and the street, the coincidence remains interesting.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC countdown to kickoff: Recalling Trojans DL Nick Figueroa for better SEO.